UNITY — The annual meeting of the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association included a presentation of the year’s service award to recipient, Graeme Gieni.
Gieni has served on the Battle West District executive as the officials’ commissioner for the past six years.
A Facebook post following the award presentation states, “Graeme puts a tremendous amount of work into finding and managing officials. In addition, he has become an important BW voice, both locally and provincially.”
Gieni has coached many different sports in different schools, including Macklin, Kerrobert, Unity Public School and Unity Composite High School. He has coached or helped with track and field, basketball and football.
Gieni is also an active official for football, volleyball and basketball. BW says when an official is needed, Gieni can be counted on to be there.
In addition to these tasks, Giene books and runs, or assists with booking and running, officials’ clinics throughout the district. Additionally, he handles all of the BW financial duties for officiating, ensuring expense forms are correct and submitted as well as ordering uniforms and other tasks.
In response to his award, Gieni says, “Being able to work in such a great athletic district has been a pleasure. It’s great to be able to offer the opportunity for students to grow through sport. Relationships that are made through sport are lifelong and seeing the success students have makes it that much sweeter."